Apply the DirextX runtime installer after updating drivers

After installing new drivers for your graphics adapter or soundcard always remember to install the newest DirectX, even if you have the newest DirectX version installed already. This will make DirectX adapt to the new drivers.

It is also a good idea to re-configure the Sound Acceleration after messing with sound- or directx-drivers:

1. Open Control Panel and select the sound configuration applet:
   • Sounds (Win95/Me).
   • Sounds and Multimedia (WinMe/Win2k).
   • Sounds and Audio Devices (WinXP).
2. Select the Audio-tab and press Advanced-button for Sound Playback and the window Advanced Audio Properties comes up.
3. Select the Speakers-tab and select your speaker setup (If already selected, then change it, press Apply and then change it back).
4. Select the Performance-tab and slide the Hardware Acceleration to Full (If already Full, then slide it down, press Apply and then change it back).
5. Press Ok-button to accept the new audio configuration.

It is also a good idea to re-configure the Graphics Acceleration after messing with display- or directx-drivers:

1. Open Control Panel and select the Display properties-applet.
2. Select the Settings-tab and press the Advanced...-button.
3. Select the Troubleshooting-tab and set Hardware Acceleration to Full (If already Full, then slide it down, press Apply and then change it back).
4. One might also check the display configuration tabs provided by the manufacture (Those tabs usually has icons).
5. Press Ok-button to accept the new graphics configuration.

Another good idea after installing Sound-, Graphics- or DirectX-Drivers is to run DirectX Diagnostics (DxDiag.exe). It can discover many configurations errors with a few simple tests. If it complains about not being able to use hardware buffering in the sound test then go through the above steps to enable sound acceleration (or reinstall soundcard drivers).